Megha Mela

In the month of Magha (that is during the English months of January – February), the seventh day is the day of the Megha Mela. This is one of the most important fairs that focus on prayers and thanks giving that are celebrated in Orissa. The most notable thing is that along with this, the people also indulge in a little bit of trading that normally happens at the village fairs during Megha Mela.

Megha Mela can be traced back to a very long time. This seems to be there ever since the practice of taking a holy dip in the rivers has been there. The main factor of Megha Mela has been the bathing in the river and the entire city of Konark wears a festive look and there are pilgrims who come from far off and nearby cities to take bath in the rivers by means of which they are cleansed of their sins and are ready to take on a righteous life.

Celebration of Megha Mela

The celebration of Megha Mela starts on the 7th day of the month of Magha in the local calendar. This is the period between January – February and is celebrated after the Makar Mela that is celebrated on the day of the Makar Sankranti. While the people of Orissa give thanks to the Sun God on the day of Makar Sankranti, this is about taking a dip in the holy rivers early in the morning and chanting the holy verses seeking the blessings of God.

There are a lot of pilgrims who gather at the Chandrabhaga Tirtha in Konark. Konark has been known for many pious reasons and this is another of such reasons. The devotees get into the waters and wait for the sun to rise. The minute the sun rises; they have their holy dip and also chant their prayers for all their needs and wishes to be fulfilled.

Tourism in Megha Mela

Since there is a religious angle to this fair, there are a lot of devotees who assemble at the site of the Mela. Other than the holy dip, there are also some stalls that are put up in nearby places since there is a lot of moving population these days and the local traders tend to make some money from the business conducted at this time.

Interesting Fact about Megha Mela

It is a surprise to see devotees taking the holy dip in spite of all their work schedules and year on year we only see the numbers increasing. There are a lot more people who come forward to do these things and this is also a high point in their tourism industry and this sees a lot of tourists coming over to be a part of this Megha Mela from far and near cities.

Tips for Tourist in Megha Mela

The weather could be cold and so the devotees who come here to bathe are requested to consider the weather conditions and their health conditions and then plan their day.

Again since there are a lot of water borne diseases, for devotees with resistance problems should take necessary precautions to prevent them from falling sick. Because of the high crowd, the contagious diseases can also spread quickly, so enough care should be taken.

How to Reach

By Air

The tourists who want to come to take part in the Megha Mela, the airport to reach will be Bhubaneswar airport. This has good air connections across the city and this is only about 64 kms off Konark. So, from here the tourists can take an auto or taxi to the fair.

By Train

The Bhubaneswar railway station is the closest and this is also ideal for tourists who need to come over in larger groups. They can all plan to reach the Bhubaneswar station and then travel to the fair either in taxis or autos that they can find locally.

By Bus

Konark is well connected to the national highways and because of these good connections the tourists can choose to come from either of the cities within the state or outside in these buses. They are very cost effective and comfortable as well.